Nine affected by chemical bombs in Svay Rieng

Nine people were confirmed to have been affected by a chemical bomb in Svay Rieng’s Korki commune and were sent to the district hospital on Tuesday afternoon, according to health officials.

Kuch Sitha, the deputy director of Svay Rieng provincial referral hospital, said the provincial health department reported nine villagers were affected by a chemical bomb while they were farming.

“By 1pm today, there were nine people affected by a chemical bomb and most of them are women. They were brought to Romeas Hek district referral hospital in CMAC cars. Their symptoms are they had difficulty breathing, hot faces and skin rashes,” he said.

“They were digging land to plant cassava on their farms and touched a bomb in Romeas Hek district’s Korki commune where CMAC has found similar bombs and removed them. The bombs were dropped by the US during the war,” he said.

Last year 153 villagers were found to be suffering from the effects of chemical bombs and sent to hospitals for treatment and most had symptoms of skin and respiratory complaints, while some babies had been born with abnormalities.

A new health centre was then opened in Korki commune where old chemical bombs have been found, leaving many villagers suffering from skin and respiratory complaints.

Mr Sitha said he had not yet been updated on the condition of the villagers, but said they would be sent to the provincial hospital if their condition worsened.

“We don’t know their condition now, but we know that the physicians are giving them serum and giving them pills and if their conditions get worse, we will send them to the provincial hospital. However, there is confirmation,” he said.

The 6th Annual Tiger Street Football Festival 2018 continues this Sunday in Poipet city in what promises to be another dazzling display of intense futsal action and a fun superstar after-games party with performers and DJs.